Ethanol Free Gas

[Ranger16]

The engine in my 1969 Roadrunner is a 383, and is the number matching original, 60K miles on it. If I run the ethanol gas what kind of problems would I see? There's no racing only cruising.

Same car, same year, same motor. I am forced to use ethanol and have zero problems.
It was percolating after shut down, but after switching from the 190 factory thermostat to a 180, that is history.

 

[YY1]

I ran 10%E in OH back in the 80's simply because it was 15c cheaper.

Never had an issue in my 60's or 70's cars, but I heard of folks who's O rings in their carbs swelled.

 

[Gpuller]

10% has been in Minnesota since the early 90's. I run it in my Charger, lawn mower, weed eater, snowmobiles, 60 year old tractors without problems.

 

[doublekrossd]

I've had several problems with 'road gas' in boats, power equipment, and power sports toys. I don't run it in anything other than my new vehicles. The ethanol gas is tough on fuel systems not designed for it, tends to 'varnish' way quicker than real gas, and I've found things just run way better using what we call 'rec' gas. Usually I get rec gas that's 90 octane and mix it with 110 octane for my car, and run straight rec gas for everything else but my snowmobiles.

Ive taken several fuel systems down and had to rebuild them and every time I get the same symptoms and cause. This is all first hand experience, not something I've read about. I would try very, very hard to not put todays road fuels in any classic that hasn't been rebuilt to deal with the more corrosive gas.

 

[Gpuller]

The ethanol is a good cleaner. It will remove varnish deposits in fuel tanks, that is the problem I feel people are having. Once it's been run for years there is no problem. At least that's my take.
Take an old gunked up tank and dump in some E10 or even better E85 in a few days it will be really clean.

 

[doublekrossd]

The ethanol is a good cleaner. It will remove varnish deposits in fuel tanks, that is the problem I feel people are having. Once it's been run for years there is no problem. At least that's my take.
Take an old gunked up tank and dump in some E10 or even better E85 in a few days it will be really clean.

I'd agree with that, but once the ethanol laced gas separates, which happens fairly quickly, I think it creates a whole new problem

 

[Dennis H]

It boils at 173. That alone creates heat soak problems with cars running normally at 180 or 195. No choice at the pumps. And It's subsidized. Baloney.

 

[Ranger16]

Mine got up to 230 in a long traffic backup at the 2015 Power Tour (Madison Wi.) To my surprise, if it boiled, it never vapor locked. That said, I used to hear it percolate after shut down with a 190 thermostat. That went away after I went to a 180.